This sound sculpture will explore the musicality of sounds hidden within
the structure of the London Millennium Foot Bridge. This bridge is alive
with vibrations caused by the bridge’s responses to the collective
energy of footsteps, load and wind. This sonic world is inaudible to
the ear when walking over this bridge. It will be revealed by the use
of the accelerometers (which are vibration sensors) that are listening
to the inner dynamic motions of the bridge. Harmonic Bridge will be
realized by installing a network of live accelerometers on different
parts of the Bridge in order to acoustically map in real
time its hidden musical life. The live sonic mapping will be translated
into an acoustic sculpture by carefully rendering sounds from this
listening network into a spatial matrix of loudspeakers. This sculpture
will not only render the natural acoustic movements of the Bridge, but
will tune the presence of this live sonic data to the characteristics
and architecture of the two spaces in which the work is presented: the
Turbine Hall of the Tate Modern, and the Main Concourse of Southwark
Station of the London Underground.

The presence of Harmonic Bridge in the Turbine Hall
of the Tate Modern will give new meaning to this bridge being a metaphor
for linking St. Paul’s
and the Southwark side of the Thames. The low percussive tones of the bridge
produced in response to wind and the loading of the large structural cables
will resonate with the acoustics and 100 hertz of the Turbine Hall, creating
an immersive and sensual experience for visitors. The work would enter
the space as a slow moving wave, emerging from the ground tone of the background
hum and then slowly decaying back into it.